Champion One Two
Fairview 10th July: This meeting was originally scheduled to take place on the turf. A maiden juvenile plate got proceedings underway on Friday and in what proved to be the fastest of the afternoon’s three 1200m events victory here went to the unfancied newcomer CRUZCAMPO. Freely available at 20/1 on the off, Yvette Bremner’s charge raced fifth during the early part of the race. He was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 200m marker and comfortably accounted for the even money favourite MEMPHIS MAFIA by two and a quarter.
There was also three races run over 1400m and quickest home amongst these was GRAPE VINE in the MR75 Handicap. Positioned in midfield as the fourteen runners turned for home, the son of Elusive Fort quickened nicely in the straight and under a well-judged ride from Richard Fourie he got up late to deny ROMEO BRAVO.
The faster of the two 2200m races (originally scheduled for 2400m) was the MR66 affair won by Grape Vine’s stable companion MASTERLY. Sent off a well-supported favourite at 12/10 (op 16/10), Justin Snaith’s charge was always handy. He put his head in front early in the home straight and went on to score with authority from the easy to back OH SO MODUS by three and a quarter.
The Gr3 Champion Juvenile Stakes over 1400m topped the bill and here the visiting stable of Joey Ramsden were on the mark when PRINCE OF THIEVES landed the spoils. Sent off second in the betting market at 2/1 the son of Rebel King was soon positioned close to the speed. He took up the running at the 100m pole and ran on strongly late to beat his stable companion THE STONE THROWER.
Titbits
The 20/1 shot JUDBURY ran on well from midfield when getting up late to win the first division of the MR60 Handicap over 1200m going away.
At the back turning for home, BELLE STAR (also 20/1) ran on well to finish third in the second division of the MR60 Handicap over 1200m.
.
Cutting It Fine
Turffontein 11th July: They raced on the old stand side track on Saturday where victory in the opening maiden juvenile plate over 1000m went to the 14/10 favourite SWEET PAINTED LADY. She got away well when the gates opened and taken straight to the front by the title chasing Gavin Lerena, led throughout. She was always in command and with the rest some nine lengths adrift she beat the deposed favourite RAIN IN AFRICA (a De Kock newcomer) with some in hand by two and a quarter.
There were three races run over 1000m in total and the fastest of these was the MR70 Handicap won by CAPTAIN’S ANCHOR. Backed throughout the day into 5/1 from 14’s, Gary Alexander’s charge took a bump at the start and as a result he raced in the rear early on. Once into stride though he quickened well, and in what proved to be a real thriller he got up late to deny the always handy VARANESE.
Quickest home in the three 1600m races was KINGKOVSKY when landing the MR67 affair. Swiftly guided over from a wide draw by Piere Strydom the son of King’s Apostle raced handy. He battled to find a clear passage when first asked for his effort, but once seeing daylight quickened well, and in a race where less than a length separated the first four home, he got up very late.
The faster of the two maiden 2000m races was the boy’s affair won by Kingkovsky’s stable companion CAYMEN SUNSET. The best bet on the card for many the son of Miesque’s Approval also raced in touch with the leaders. He ran on strongly at the business end of the race and made to work all the way to the wire he only got up in the dying strides to deny FELIX M (led 900m).
Titbits
The newcomer CORPUS CHRISTI had to switch en-route from the rear when winning the boy’s division of the maiden juvenile plate over 1000m with some in hand.
.
Climb Every Mountain
Kenilworth 11th July: SILVER MOUTAIN in the maiden juvenile plate for fillies over 1200m was the best bet for most in Cape Town on Saturday and the daughter of Silvano didn’t let down her supporters. Always in the red, Mike Bass’ charge was soon prominent. She was ridden to lead as they approached the 300m marker and went on to win well by three and a half.
The fastest of the three 1400m races was the MR71 affair won by A TIME TO DREAM. Having only her third career outing here, the daughter of Dynasty raced in midfield for most of the journey. She quickened well at the top of the old course straight and in a blanket finish she got the verdict by a neck.
A MR95 Handicap over 2000m topped the bill and here we saw a comfortable victory for one of the deposed joint favourites PAOLO (3/1 out to 4/1). On leaving the stalls it was the newly installed favourite MY WORLD (5/1 into 28/10) who elected to make the running whilst Paolo sat close up in third. He put his head in front shortly after passing the 300m marker and although My World kept on strongly once headed he went on to score comfortably by a length and a half.
Titbits
Having only his second career outing here, the Silvano colt MARINARESCO came from the rear when winning the maiden plate over 1200m going away.
.
Top speedratings for this weekend include:-
Flamingo Park (mon)
Race 1: (2) The Arabian 25
Race 2: (3) Supreme Leader 26
Race 3: (3) Evercell 41 (NAP*)
Race 4: (1) Star Of Burma 8
Race 5: (6) Fussy Ball 34
Race 6: (5) Cape Siskin 46
Race 7: (1) Boarding Call 42
Race 8: (5) She’s A Tiger 24
Race 9: (1) Defender Of Peace 23
Greyville (tues)
Race 1: (3) Exit Here 8 (NAP*)
Race 2: (3) Chronological 6
Race 3: (10) Paix Embleme 21
Race 4: (11) Quintella 43
Race 5: (12) Pula 46
Race 6: (10) Delicious Damowin 41
Race 7: (4) Fragrant Beauty 32
Race 8: (12) Princess Milo 26
Race 9: (4) Dellavera 8
Kenilworth (wed)
Race 1: (6) Forever Alert 15
Race 2: (8) Nutbush 8
Race 3: (9) Noisette 6
Race 4: (8) Little Chapel 32 (NAP*)
Race 5: (12) Musical Man 54
Race 6: (2) Promicing Polly 56
Race 7: (8) Irish Dynasty 72
Race 8: (9) Litethenite 40
Vaal (thur)
Race 1: (1) Spurwing Summer 21
Race 2: (1) Battle Born 7
Race 3: (3) Attract The Crowd 11
Race 4: (2) Usisi 41
Race 5: (1) Trip Tease 94 (NAP*)
Race 6: (6) American Tiger 59
Race 7: (2) Tacitus 37
Race 8: (16) French Approval 40
.
Top rated winners last week included
Diamond Dynasty won 6/1
Melliflora won 22/10
Pivotal Pursuit won 2/1
Kahal Legal won 13/10
Great Brother won 12/10
Fortune Fella won 15/20
Silver Mountain won 15/20
Rock On Baby won 9/20
.
Notebook:-
Corpus Christi (B Wiid, Gauteng)
Cruzcampo (Y Bremner, E-Cape)
Silver Mountain (M Bass, W-Cape)
.
FASTEST TIMES
The number of races run over each distance is shown in brackets
*Denotes – Times taken by Clockwatcher
Fairview (poly) 10th July
Going Standard
1000m (1) Party Favour 58,92
1200m (3) Cruzcampo 70,20
1400m (3) Grape Vine 82,21
2200m (2) Masterly 135,55
Turffontein (old) 11th July
Pentrometer 20 – Going Good
1000m (3) Captain’s Anchor 57,13
1600m (3) Kingkovsky 97,20
1800m (1) Judicial 111,18
2000m (2) Caymen Sunset 126,51
Kenilworth (old) 11th July
Penetrometer 24 – Going G/Soft
1200m (3) Silver Mountain 73,53
1400m (3) A Time To Dream 88,65
1600m (1) Ice Style 101,81
2000m (1) Paolo 128,75
